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Newguest Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I wish.....would

Hello

We use I wish....would to complain about a situation eg The phone has been ringing for 5 minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.

Later the book says: We use I wish....would... for actions and changes, NOT situations

EG. I wish Sarah would come

but not: I wish Sarah would be here now

EG. I wish somebody would buy me a car

but not: I wish I would have a car

I'm a bit confused about it. Can you make it clearer to me?

Thanks
  

Top answer

There are exceptions to every rule in English, but a fairly good one is to use would to refer to things that will happen in the future : I wish / If only Sarah were here now! I wish / If only Sarah would come tomorrow ! I wish / If only I had a car!

— Cool Breeze

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5 Answers

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There are exceptions to every rule in English, but a fairly good one is to use would to refer to things that will happen in the future:
I wish / If only Sarah were here now!
I wish / If only Sarah would come tomorrow!
I wish / If only I had a car!
I wish / If only somebody would buy me a car!
C
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Hi,
think of that "would" as the equivalent of "will" when there is backshifting. So I wish Sarah were here NOW. Emotion: smile
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NewguestWe use I wish..would to complain about a situation eg The phone has been ringing for 5 minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.

Later the book says: We use I wish..would... for actions and changes, NOT situations

EG. I wish Sarah would come

but not: I wish Sarah would be here now

EG. I wish somebody
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Hi

I had to read it a few times before I understood it Emotion: wink

Thanks CJ!
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